Tamper.



PATENTED JAN.'24, 1905.

J. w. MORGAN,

TAMPER. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 6. 1904.

Wdueoow Patented January 24, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

J OHNW. MORGAN, OF ALEXANDER, ILLINOIS.

AMPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Pat nt N0. 780,900, dated. January24, 1905.

Application filed September 6, 1904- Serial No. 223,521.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN W. MORGAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Alexander, in the county of Morgan and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tampers; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an instrument designed to tamp the loose eartharound a fencepost or the like to secure the post in the ground; and myinvention consists of certain novel features of combination andconstruction of parts, as will be hereinafter clearly set forth, andpointed out in the claims.

The prime object of my invention, among others, is to provide a deviceof the character specified which, while of simple and comparativelycheap construction, will be found reliably efficient in the performanceof its office.

My invention and the use thereof will be illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in

which- Figure 1 shows a perspective view of my post-tamping devicecomplete asapplied to use. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the oppositeend from that illustrated in Fig. 1 employed in compressing the eartharound the fence-post. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal central sectional viewof one end of my tamper. Fig. i is a longitudinal central sectional viewof the opposite end of the tamper from that illustrated in Fig. 3. Fig.5 is a sectional view on dotted lines 5 5 of Fig. 3 looking in thedirection indicated by arrows, while Fig. 6 is a sectional view asindicated by dotted lines 6 6 of Fig. 4.

Referring to thenumerals on the drawings, 1 designates a fence-post ofthe usual or any preferred construction, which is anchored in the groundto the desired depth and the earth filled in around said post, andobviously it is desirable that the loosened earth shall be firmlycompressed around the base of the post, whereby the latter will besecurely held in an adjusted upright position, and with this object inview 1 provide my tamping appliance, consisting of the tamper-headproper, 2, having the handle portion 3 secured thereto in any preferredway, as by means of the bolt or screw whereby said handle 3 may beremoved, if desired. The handle portion 3 is made tubular and isinternally-threaded to receive the threaded stem 5. The other end of thethreaded stem 5 is entered into the socket or handle 8, to which thetamper-head 6 is attached, as indicated by the numeral 7. Thetamper-head 6 is preferably crescent-shaped in the general outline,whereby its concave inner face will revolve around the periphery of thefence-post or enable the extreme ends of the crescent-shaped member 6 toreach into the narrow space between the fence-post and a contiguous partof the post-hole.

I prefer to permanently secure the crescentshaped member 6 upon the endof the socket or handle 8, as by upsetting said end, as indicatedby thenumeral 7, though it will be understood that any preferred means may beemployed for uniting said parts- The members 2 and 6, it will beunderstood, possess the requisite weight to enable them to reliablyperform their ofiices of compressing the loosened earth which has beenfilled in around the fence-post, and while the member 2 will be foundvery useful in compressing the loos- I ened earth in the wider portionsof the posthole the member 6 will be found equally efiicient incompressing the loosened earth occupying the narrower space between thewalls of the post-hole and the fence-post. The threaded stem beingseated within the threaded socket provided in the handle 8, it isobvious that the length of the handle portion of my improved tamper orearth-compressing instrument may be lengthened or shortened, as desired,and thus fitted for use by different persons.

It will be found in practice that the ends of the crescent-shaped member6 will efliciently serve as handles, enabling the weighted member 2 tobe raised and lowered incident to the use of the instrument.

My tamping appliance may be reversed, so that either end may be broughtinto position to compress the earth around the post.

In Fig. 1 I have shown a weighted member 2 as being employed forcompressing the earth in the wider space between the wall of thepost-hole and the fence-post, whereas in Fig. 2 l have shown thecrescent-shaped member 6 as being employed in compressing the earth inthe narrow constricted space between the fence-post and a contiguouspart of the wall of the post-hole, the weighted member being entirelyremoved by withdrawal of the threaded bolt or screw 4.

The various parts of my invention may be very cheaply and expeditiouslymanufactured of any preferred material and said parts readily assembledeach in its respective place. Inasmuch as various modifications andchanges may be made in the construction or formation of the componentparts of my invention, I desire to comprehend such modifications and andequivalents.

Believing that the advantages, construction, and manner of using myinvention have thus been made fully apparent, further description isdispensed with.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A tamping instrument comprising a weighted member2 and handle portion3 having a tubular upper end, means to removably secure said handle tosaid weighted member, a threaded stem, one end of which is adapted totake into said tubular end of said handlesection,aninteriorly-threadedtubular handle-- section adapted to take on the threaded end of saidstem, and a crescent-shaped terminal minal and means to secure the sameto the free end of said handleseetion 8, all combined substantially asset forth.

3. A tamping instrument comprising a bandle member made in two sections, an exteriorlythreaded stem, one end of which is secured to one ofsaid handle-sections, the opposite end being adapted to take into thethreaded opening in the other handle-section whereby said handle may belengthened or shortened, a weighted member secured to one end of saidhandle, and a crescent-shaped terminal secured to the opposite endthereof, all combined substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two sub scribing witnesses.

JOIIN \V. MORGAN.

\Vitncsses:

M. S. ZAenAm', R. L. HALL.

